Philippines' PPP Built 3rd Solar Wafer Slicing Facility in Batangas

The Philippines' solar power industry can expect a boost with the completion of a solar cell manufacturing facility in Batangas,South of Manila Philippines.

The new facility being built by First Philippine Electric Corp. (First Philec) is building the wafer slicing plant with Korean firm Nexolon Corporation.

Once completed, the plant will be capable of producing 400 megawatts worth of solar wafers per year.

“This is solid proof that government and industry collaboration can work successfully, and that continued investments through Public Private Partnerships (PPP’s) can spur the growth of innovation especially in science and technology," Angara said in a statement.

Angara chairs the Congressional Commission on Science Technology and Engineering (COMSTE), where First Philec is a partner.

Still, Angara said that the government can further encourage local and foreign manufacturers to invest in renewable energy "by creating a hospitable environment through policy, infrastructure and incentive support."

First Philec is a partner of COMSTE in developing renewable energy systems, such as the country’s first solar testing facility located in the First Philippine Industrial Park in Tanuan, Batangas.

The testing facility with a 180 kilowatt on-grid capacity would be capable of testing photovoltaic modules in-house for efficiency and resilience in field conditions, unlike conventional tests done inside controlled laboratory environments.

Also, the facility would be able to test solar panels for optimal output in tropical conditions.

On the other hand, Angara noted that SunPower, one of the world's largest solar manufacturers, already has two solar wafer fabrication plants in the country even if the country's solar industry is still in its infancy.

Ernesto Santiago, president of the Semiconductor Electronics Industry in the Philippines, Inc. (SEIPI), another COMSTE industry partner, said the manufacture of electronic components for solar energy production has the potential to generate $28 billion in exports.

“The potential of the renewable energy industry to create new jobs and business is immense. It can also help reduce our dependence – and expenses – on expensive fuel imports. Renewable energy is a win-win proposition for the Philippines

 

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Forum Energy & Philex seeks partners for Oil and Gas exploration Service Contract 72

Oil and Gas Exploration – Philippines: Forum Energy Plc is scouting for a partner for Service Contract (SC) 72 off Palawan to be able to continue the Oil and Gas exploration activities in the area. a top company official said.

“The company is also assessing potential partnerships in SC 72 to accelerate the development of the project, although there are no proposals currently in place,” Forum chairman Robert Nicholson said in a report.

But he stressed they are optimistic that SC 72 would continue to be one of the company’s major achievements.

“The completion of our first sub-phase work program over SC 72 will be a milestone for the company, since the last data acquisition which was concluded over   five years ago. We expect that this data will give us significant additional information that will enable the company to better assess the various development scenarios and potential partnership options for the SC 72 block at   a critical time in the development of this important asset,” he said.

Forum (through its 100-percent interest in Forum Philippine Holdings Ltd and Forum (GSEC101) Ltd). holds a 70 percent equity in the SC 72 licence. Philex Mining Corp. (through its interests in FEC Resources Inc and Philex Petroleum Corp.) controls 64.45 percent of the share capital of Forum.

SC 72, covers an area of 8,800 square kilometers and contains the Sampaguita gas discovery and a number of additional leads.

In 2008, a joint venture was formed with Monte Oro Resources and Energy Inc. (MORE) which qualified it for the Filipino Participation Incentive Allowance (FPIA). Through a 30-percent farm-out to MORE, the joint venture receives 7.5 percent of gross revenues shared with the government.

In February 2010, the exploration license was converted into a service contract.

Forum Energy had been stressing that SC 72 is not situated in the disputed Spratlys Group of Islands. It said the contract is located in the Reed Bank basin which is at least 150 kilometers east of the disputed Spratlys Island and is closer to the island of Palawan.

Reed Bank has been subject of numerous exploration campaigns in the past under the Philippine contractual regime. The first petroleum contract in the area was awarded by the then Ministry of Energy in 1975.

Forum (through its 100-percent interest in Forum Philippine Holdings Ltd. and Forum (GSEC101 Ltd.) holds a 70 percent equity in the SC 72 licence. Philex Mining Corp. (through its interests in FEC Resources Inc. and Philex Petroleum Corp.) controls 64.45 percent fo the share capital of Forum.

Philex mining provided a financing facility worth $10 million that enabled Forum to progress the development of Service Contract 72.

 

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